Continuing a Scenic Drive on the Cape’s Route 6A

Last month, we took you from Bourne Bridge to Brewster with stops in Sandwich, Yarmouth, and Dennis along the way. It’s a tour of our state’s most scenic byway, Route 6A. Also known as Old King’s Highway, the 65-mile long journey is one of the most historic roads in the country, with the country’s biggest contiguous historic district within its length.

National Geographic has described it as one of the World’s Most Scenic Drives and Smithsonian Magazine says it’s the nation’s most appealing stretch of highway. The highway achieved National Scenic Byway status in January 2021, making it one of only four scenic drives Massachusetts has with this designation. And Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club is centrally located along the route in Brewster. Which is where we pick up our journey!

Begin again in Orleans
After a good night’s sleep at Ocean Edge Resort (and maybe even a round of golf), you’ll hop back on 6a to go through Orleans. During the Revolutionary War, the town was captured twice by the British twice, so residents decided to give it a French name as a show of gratitude for the French support. Also of note, Orleans was the only U.S. town attacked by the Germans during World War I. French General Pershing communicated to the U.S. government through the French Cable Station, which is now a museum in Orleans. Another historic site is the Jonathan Young Windmill, which still has much of its early machinery and parts intact.
For a bit of fun while you’re there, check out Cape Escape Adventure Golf. It has an 18-hole mini-golf course with a nautical theme, including fishing boats, waterfalls, and an active koi fish pond.

Drive North along Cape Cod National Seashore
Leave Orleans by drivinh north to Eastham. You’ll notice as you enter the town that Route 6A disappears into Route 6, also called the Mid-Cape Highway. The main attraction of this charming town is the Cape Cod National Seashore, which President John F. Kennedy established in 1961. Forty miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds, and uplands support diverse species in this protected area. Lighthouses, cultural landscapes, and wild cranberry bogs offer a glimpse of Cape Cod's past and continuing ways of life. You just have to stray from the highway a bit to see it all.
Coast Guard Beach in Eastham is worth visiting for swimming, and has consistently been named one of the top ten beaches in the U.S. by Travel & Leisure Magazine. For a dose of history, walk around the Three Sisters lighthouses. Or visit Cape Cod’s most photographed and well-known lighthouse, the Nauset Lighthouse. It’s been an important part of the town’s cultural and maritime history with a beach nearby by the same name. When in town, stop by the Salt Pond Visitor Center to help plan your visit.

Visit Wellfleet for a Drive-in Movie
When you’ve had your fill of the seashore, continue on the scenic highway to enter Wellfleet. Wellfleet offers an inviting, small-town experience with a busy waterfront and several wonderful dining and shopping options. In this section of the Cape Cod scenic drive, you could stop by Wellfleet Cinemas for more than a drive-in or indoor movie. It has a flea market, mini-golf course, and dairy bar with hard-packed and soft-serve ice cream. Movies start after Memorial Day weekend. Or, to continue on your nature kick, make a quick stop at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary where you can hike the trails to a salt marsh, venture through the pine woodlands, or go out to a sandy barrier beach.

Catch up with History in Truro
Truro is the next town that Route 6 passes through, and Route 6A separates from it in the northern section, although, there it will be called Shore Road. As part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, the Highland Light is the oldest and tallest lighthouse on the peninsula, and it’s located on a 120-foot cliff. The Highland House Museum next to it exhibits fishing and whaling gear, shipwreck artifacts, and ship models.
For a change of pace, grab a glass of wine at Truro Vineyards. You can tour the vineyard and winery if you schedule it ahead. Before leaving, purchase some wine from the gift shop located in a fully restored 1830s farmhouse.

End Your Journey in Provincetown
Your last stop, as you approach the tip of the peninsula, is Provincetown. Here, the National Scenic Byway is known by three other names: Commercial Street, Bradford Street, and Province Lands Road. The many names might be indicative of the many choices you’ll have to make regarding food, fun, and activities. It’s bustling with more to do than you have time for in a weekend. And its not all commercial; at the end of Route 6A (Province Lands Road) is Herring Cove Beach, which has amazing sunsets. And at more than 252 feet tall, it’s hard to miss the 1892 Pilgrim Monument. It stands in honor of the Mayflower Pilgrims’ arrival. Afterall, Provincetown is where the Mayflower Compact was signed. Also on the property, Provincetown Museum is an old-fashioned history museum that chronicles the area’s history, from the Pilgrims to modern American theater to the monument’s construction.

And that does it! Of course, on your way back out of the Cape, we invite you to stay at Ocean Edge Resort once again, and would love to hear about your journey when you check in. Read along, take some notes, drive through history, and enjoy the beautiful scenery as you go!